El’Cesart – Hope
INVOCATION
Spirit, Break open our lives and free us from all chains.
EPIPHANY
Dr. Maya Angelou's 3-Word Secret to Living Your Best (Most Hope-Filled) Life
CHANT
Thomas Merton, The Book of Hours
Teach me to go to this country beyond words and beyond names.
Teach me to pray on this side of the frontier, here where these woods are.
I need to be led by you.
I need my heart to be moved by you.
I need my soul to be made clean by your prayer.
I need my will to be made strong by you.
I need the world to be saved and changed by you.
I need you for all those who suffer, who are in prison, in danger, in sorrow.
I need you for all the crazy people.
I need your healing hand to work always in my life.
I need you to make me, as you made your Son, a healer, a comforter, a savior.
I need you to name the dead.
I need you to help the dying cross their particular rivers.
I need you for myself whether I live or die.
It is necessary.
Amen.
BENEDICTION
Adapted from A.A. Milne, Winne-the-Pooh
May you always look for sunshine. It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine. For it still shines, even when it’s hiding.
Oh that Thomas Merton! Thank you Marcie. I'm going to tether myself to those words for a while - 💜🙏💜
Lovely, Marcie